NBI chief to present full probe on VP Sara’s ‘continuing threat’ vs PBBM—House prosecution
The National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) full probe into Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s supposed “continuing threat” against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will be presented before the Senate impeachment court next week.
House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Friday said the investigation will be the centerpiece of NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s testimony when he takes the witness stand on July 21 as the prosecution’s last witness on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats.
The fourth article of impeachment accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust and other impeachable offenses over her Nov. 23, 2024 statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez should she herself be killed.
“Sa darating pong Martes, si NBI Director Melvin Matibag ang huli pong isasalang ng prosekusyon para sa article on threats para tahiin ang kabuuan ng naging imbestigasyon ng NBI dito sa continuing threat ng Pangalawang Pangulo laban sa ating Pangulo at sa kanyang pamilya,” Ridon said during a press briefing.
Ridon said Matibag will present the NBI’s “full Bureau reporting,” going beyond the digital forensic evidence and investigative findings already presented before the impeachment court.
“Hindi lang po ito cybercrime investigation katulad ng ginawa ni Atty. Lotoc at ni Agent Calilung, kundi ang iba pang mga ulat mula sa kabuuan ng opisina ng NBI,” added Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
The prosecution has so far presented NBI Special Agent John Mark Calilung, who authenticated the Nov. 23, 2024 video recording containing Duterte’s statements, and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who testified on the bureau’s investigation that led to its recommendation to file three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against the Vice President.
Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, adviser and spokesperson for the House impeachment team, said the prosecution’s case remains strong after the defense failed to undermine the credibility of its first two witnesses during cross-examination.
“Nakita naman natin sa dalawang testimonya ng aming mga witnesses… hindi pa ho nagigiba ’yung credibility ng aming mga testigo,” Barbers said.
He noted that the defense itself relied on the same authenticated video presented by the prosecution during its cross-examination of Calilung.
“Itong ebidensyang in-authenticate ng aming unang witness ay in-authenticate din naman ng panig ng depensa dahil kitang-kita na ginamit din nila itong ebidensyang ito,” Barbers said.
Barbers also pointed to Lotoc’s testimony that the NBI found sufficient basis to recommend filing three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against Duterte.
After Matibag’s testimony, the House prosecution is expected to conclude its presentation of evidence on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats before proceeding to the article accusing her of misusing confidential funds.NBI chief to present full probe on VP Sara’s ‘continuing threat’ vs PBBM—House prosecution
The National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) full probe into Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s supposed “continuing threat” against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will be presented before the Senate impeachment court next week.
House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Friday said the investigation will be the centerpiece of NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s testimony when he takes the witness stand on July 21 as the prosecution’s last witness on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats.
The fourth article of impeachment accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust and other impeachable offenses over her Nov. 23, 2024 statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez should she herself be killed.
“Sa darating pong Martes, si NBI Director Melvin Matibag ang huli pong isasalang ng prosekusyon para sa article on threats para tahiin ang kabuuan ng naging imbestigasyon ng NBI dito sa continuing threat ng Pangalawang Pangulo laban sa ating Pangulo at sa kanyang pamilya,” Ridon said during a press briefing.
Ridon said Matibag will present the NBI’s “full Bureau reporting,” going beyond the digital forensic evidence and investigative findings already presented before the impeachment court.
“Hindi lang po ito cybercrime investigation katulad ng ginawa ni Atty. Lotoc at ni Agent Calilung, kundi ang iba pang mga ulat mula sa kabuuan ng opisina ng NBI,” added Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
The prosecution has so far presented NBI Special Agent John Mark Calilung, who authenticated the Nov. 23, 2024 video recording containing Duterte’s statements, and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who testified on the bureau’s investigation that led to its recommendation to file three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against the Vice President.
Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, adviser and spokesperson for the House impeachment team, said the prosecution’s case remains strong after the defense failed to undermine the credibility of its first two witnesses during cross-examination.
“Nakita naman natin sa dalawang testimonya ng aming mga witnesses… hindi pa ho nagigiba ’yung credibility ng aming mga testigo,” Barbers said.
He noted that the defense itself relied on the same authenticated video presented by the prosecution during its cross-examination of Calilung.
“Itong ebidensyang in-authenticate ng aming unang witness ay in-authenticate din naman ng panig ng depensa dahil kitang-kita na ginamit din nila itong ebidensyang ito,” Barbers said.
Barbers also pointed to Lotoc’s testimony that the NBI found sufficient basis to recommend filing three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against Duterte.
After Matibag’s testimony, the House prosecution is expected to conclude its presentation of evidence on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats before proceeding to the article accusing her of misusing confidential funds.
THE National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) full probe into Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s supposed “continuing threat” against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will be presented before the Senate impeachment court next week.
House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Friday said the investigation will be the centerpiece of NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s testimony when he takes the witness stand on July 21 as the prosecution’s last witness on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats.
The fourth article of impeachment accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust and other impeachable offenses over her Nov. 23, 2024 statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez should she herself be killed.
“Sa darating pong Martes, si NBI Director Melvin Matibag ang huli pong isasalang ng prosekusyon para sa article on threats para tahiin ang kabuuan ng naging imbestigasyon ng NBI dito sa continuing threat ng Pangalawang Pangulo laban sa ating Pangulo at sa kanyang pamilya,” Ridon said during a press briefing.
Ridon said Matibag will present the NBI’s “full Bureau reporting,” going beyond the digital forensic evidence and investigative findings already presented before the impeachment court.
“Hindi lang po ito cybercrime investigation katulad ng ginawa ni Atty. Lotoc at ni Agent Calilung, kundi ang iba pang mga ulat mula sa kabuuan ng opisina ng NBI,” added Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
The prosecution has so far presented NBI Special Agent John Mark Calilung, who authenticated the Nov. 23, 2024 video recording containing Duterte’s statements, and NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, who testified on the bureau’s investigation that led to its recommendation to file three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against the Vice President.
Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, adviser and spokesperson for the House impeachment team, said the prosecution’s case remains strong after the defense failed to undermine the credibility of its first two witnesses during cross-examination.
“Nakita naman natin sa dalawang testimonya ng aming mga witnesses… hindi pa ho nagigiba ’yung credibility ng aming mga testigo,” Barbers said.
He noted that the defense itself relied on the same authenticated video presented by the prosecution during its cross-examination of Calilung.
“Itong ebidensyang in-authenticate ng aming unang witness ay in-authenticate din naman ng panig ng depensa dahil kitang-kita na ginamit din nila itong ebidensyang ito,” Barbers said.
Barbers also pointed to Lotoc’s testimony that the NBI found sufficient basis to recommend filing three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition against Duterte.
After Matibag’s testimony, the House prosecution is expected to conclude its presentation of evidence on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats before proceeding to the article accusing her of misusing confidential funds.
metrosundaily
